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The city of Acireale is located in an excellent position in the south of the Sicilian coast. The name of the city comes from Greek mythology, in which there was room for a character called Acis. Acis was a shepherd who fell in love with the nymph Galatea, but in turn the Cyclops Polyphemus was also in love with her. After being rejected by Galatea, Polyphemus killed his rival by crushing him under a boulder with the hope of conquering his beloved. In the Belvedere Garden of Acireale you can admire one of the symbols of the city: the representation of the epilogue of the myth, when Galatea, with a compassionate embrace, would like to resurrect her beloved Acis.
The city is rich in natural beauty and its excellent position makes it unique, in fact, a stone's throw from the sea and with the majestic Etna Volcano behind it. Acireale is the baroque city par excellence and walking along the streets you can breathe an air of millenary history, which has its roots in ancient Greece, visible in the streets, buildings, balconies and monuments. To admire the Cathedral of Acireale with the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul next to it; the Municipal Palace positioned in the center; the Collegiate Basilica of San Sebastiano considered the most beautiful in Acireale; the Zelantea; Opera dei Pupi museum.
Famous for its Carnival, considered for decades the most beautiful in Sicily and one of the best in all of Italy. Among its characteristics there is the parade of allegorical-grotesque floats created in papier-mâché by artisans of the city, along the streets of the historic centre. They are majestic, with many movements and plays of light that make the show engaging. Until a few years ago, during the Carnival period, flowered floats also paraded, iron structures covered with flowers and lights, something suggestive and particular; for adverse reasons, as it is a period lacking in flowers, it was decided to parade the flowered floats through the streets of the historic center of the city in the spring period.
To the north of the city, a nativity scene with human-sized characters has been set up in a natural volcanic cave.
